Cutter guard for dado woodworking machines



1 1 1,632,258 June 927 J. F. WILSON CUTTER GUARD FOR mp0 WOODWORKING MACHINES Filed June 11. 1925 JTZT Mfyo r means will be guarded.

Patented June 14, 1927.

JOHN 1*. WILSON; or ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. I

CUTTER GUARD roa nAno wooDwoaKING MACHINES.

.Applicationfiled June 11 1925. Serial N0 $5,364.

This invention relates to improvements in cutter guards and is more particularly adapted for use in connection with a wood working machine of the dado type.

One of the important obj ects of the present invention is to provide a cutter guard which includes a pair of'guard plates which extend through suitable slots/provided therefor on opposite sides of the openings in the table in a dado woodworking machine, in which opening is adapted to operate the usual cutting means, the guards normally preventing a person from coming in contact with the cutting means, the guard plates being adapted to be moved downwardly in the slots when a piece of work is moved across the opening and the cutting means therein. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a cutter guard of the above mentioned character wherein resilient means is associated with the guard plates for nor-' mally urging the same upwardly on both sides of the opening whereby the cutting A still further ob'ect is to provide a guard of the above mentioned character, which may be readily and easily installed on the table of a wood working machine of the dado type, without necessitating any material alterations, the a device being further at all times positive and efficient in its operation as well as simple in construction, inexpensive, strong anddurable, and further well adapted for the purpose for which it is designed. i

Other objects and advantages of the "invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts-throughout the several views:

'F'gure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the work table of a wood working machine of the dado} type, showing my invention associated'therewith. V

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of a portion of the table showing the opening provided for'the cutting means and the slots on eachside of theopeningand the cutter guard in the Slot, and a Figure 3 is a sectionalview, taken aproximately on the line be installed on a woodworking the base 3 -3 of Figure 2, illustrating more clearly the construction of Elle guard and the supporting means there- In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally a table of a woodworking machine, preferably of the dado type, the'same being provided with a central removable section 2, in the manner well-known in the art. This removable section of the table is provided with the enlarged opening 3, in which is mounted the usual woodworlr ing cutting machine, and as the same forms no important partof the present invention, a further ,det-ailed description thereof is not thought necessary, it being sufiicient to state that the rotary, cutter is adapted to extend above the surface of the table so as to properly function when the worlris moved over a surfaceof the table and the opening.

In order'to prevent any possibility ofthe operator having his fingers come in contact with they cutting mechanism, during the use of thewo-odworking machine, I have pro videda novel, yet simple guard which may machine very easily.

My improved guard comprises a substantially, segmental plate l, a pair of such plates being provided and being adapted to extend upwardly through tending slots 5 formed in the section 2 of the table 1, adjacent the respective sides of the opening 3, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 2. A base flange 6 is associated with each of the segmental guard plates l' and is of such'width as to limit the upward sliding movement of the guard plates with respect'torthe longitudinally extending slots 5.

The section 20f the table 1 of the woodworking machinehas its under side provided with the cut-out portion 7 below each of the ,slots 5 and the "cut-out portions provide a means for receiving the curved flat springs 8.

The intermediate portion of each of the spring elements is secured to the bottom of flange 6 of each of the guard plates 4 at the intermediate portion thereof and the ends of eachof the springs are secured to the under side ofthe sect-ion 2, adjacent the respective ends of the cut-out'portion 7 as illustrated at 9. -The purpose of the spring supporting (means. for the cutter guards will be presently apparent.

The. spring elements 8 normally urge the the longitudinally eX- guard plates 4 upwardly so that the base flanges of the respective guard plates engage the bottom of the slots 5, and in this manner, the cutting means which operates in the opening 3 is entirely protected. \Vhen the woodworking machine is in use, the work is moved transversely across the top of the table, and as the same approaches the cutting mechanism, the upper edges of the guard plates will be engaged by the work and as the work is fed across the opening 7, the guard plates will be moved downwardly by the work against the tension of thespring elements 8, so as to permit the cutting mechanism to engage the work in the usual manner, the guard plates preventing the operator from having his lingers come in contact with the cutting mechanism.

In cutting stock lumber into short lengths, the long piece of stock member is usually disposed on a traveling carriage (not shown) and which carriage is adapted for movement adjacent the side of the table. The operator standing at the side of the machine must necessarily hold the inner end portion of the stock member to be cut down on the table. The guard plate which is disposed adjacent the aforementioned carriage will prevent the hand 0 the operator accidentally coming in contact with the cutting mechanism and will also act as a guide in enabling the operator to place his hand on the stock of lumber as near the cutting mechanism as possible so that the stock may be properly held on the table while the same is being cut oil into small lengths or pieces without any danger of the operator having his hands coming in contact with the cutting mechanism.

As soon as the work has passed over the opening and has been cut' by the cutters, which are operable within the opening 3, the springs will automatically force the guard plates upwardly through the respective slots, in the section of the table.

A guard of the above mentioned character will, at all times, be positive and efficient, in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed, and the simplicity in which the same is constructed enables the device to be installed on a woodworking device, preferably of the dado type.

W'hile I have shown the preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In combination with a woodworking table having an opening therein, in which a cutting mechanism is adapted to operate, the table being provided with a slot adjacent each side of the opening, of a guard for the cutting mechanism comprising a segmental plate slidable vertical] in each of said slots,

resilient means associated with said plates respective slots when a piece of work is moved across the opening and the cutting mechanism.

2. In combination with a woodworking table having an opening therein, in which a cutting mechanism is adapted to operate, said table being provided with a longitudinally extending slot adjacent each of the sides of the opening, of a guard for the cutting mechanism comprising a pair of segmental plates operable in the respective slots, a base flange carried by the lower edge of each of said plates, a flat spring having its intermediate portion secured to the bottom of each of said base flanges, the ends of each of the springs being secured to the bottom of the table, said springs normall urging the plates upwardly in the slots, t e plates being adapted to move downwardly when a piece of work is moved across the opening and the cutting mechanism therein.

3. In combination with a wood working table having an opening therein, in which a cutting mechanism is adapted to operate, said table being provided with a longitudinally extending slot adjacent each of the sides of the openings, of a guard for the cutting mechanism comprising a. pair of segmental plates operable in the respective slots, :1 base flange carried by the lower edge of each of said plates, a flat spring having its intermediate 1portion secured to the bottom of each of said ase flanges, the ends of each of the springs being secured to the bottom of the table, said springs normally urging the plates upwardly in the slots. the plates being adapted to move downwardly when a piece of work is moved across the opening and cutting mechanism therein, said plates'being raised to their normal position when the work has passed over the openings and cutting mechanism therein, the base flanges associated with the bottom edges of the plate limiting the upward movement thereof.

4. In combination with a wood working table having an opening therein, in which a cutting mechanism is adapted to operate, a side guard for the cutter, said table being provided with a slot adjacent the side of the opening, said guard extending upwardly through the slot and adapted for vertical slidable movement therein. means for normally holding the guard in its uppermost position, the guard being adapted to be depressed when a piece of work is moved across the opening, and the cutting'meehanism, the upper edge of the guard being adapted for engagement by the work.

In testimonywhereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN F. WILSON; 

